Should this man go to jail for eating a piece of paper?

The director of Miami's Crime Stoppers program is facing a $500 fine and up to two weeks in jail after chewing up and swallowing a piece of paper containing information about an anonymous tipster.

Richard Masten was arrested for contempt of court Friday after swallowing the paper instead of sharing the information related to a drug possession tip with the judge, NBC Miami reports.

In the video above, Masten is shown ripping the paper and stuffing it into his mouth.

“The issue is the court asking Crime Stoppers to go back on their promise,” Masten told the judge, referring to the group's pledge allow community members to share tips about criminal activity anonymously and without fear of prosecution.

The judge had ordered Masten to hand over information received by Crime Stoppers about a cocaine possession case that contained the identity of the tipster.

“I make a promise to tipsters out there,” the Miami Herald quoted Masten saying. “It isn't going to happen on my watch. If you want to put me in jail, fine.”

Advertisement

Masten was given until next Thursday to either turn over the information or turn himself in.